Take the Strine!

After WEEKS of not getting out, we were really grateful the weather men got it (mostly) wrong. The outlook wasn't great, but we set off anyway. I'd decided to visit the Strines area, and in particular wanted to try to get close to a folly we'd seen from afar on previous walks.

Wikipedia gives this information;

At 53.4055°N 1.6549°W, high on the south flanks of the reservoir at a height of 315 metres stands Boot's Folly, also known occasionally as Strines Tower or Sugworth Tower. This is a folly constructed in 1927 by Charles Boot who resided at nearby Sugworth Hall. The 45-foot-high (14 m) square tower with castellated top and flag pole was built from left over stone when the nearby Bents House was constructed. The stone for Bents House had come from the disused Bents Farm and Pears House Farm when they were demolished. Boot's Folly was constructed to provide work for Sugworth Hall’s workmen during The Depression. Today the interior is bare but it originally had wood panelling and a spiral staircase, the staircase was removed some years ago after a cow climbed the stairs and became stuck. The Folly gives fine views of the reservoir and Bradfield Dale.^[6][7]

Talking to a local guy, the legend is FAR more romantic. He says that Charles Boot built the folly after his love left him, and would climb to the top, staring out into the distance in the vain hope of her return.

Who knows the truth, but the legend is good :-)

Anyway, this was the scene as we parked up on the Ladybower viaduct and booted up. A really pleasant sky, with a warm breeze and ideal conditions for photography.

Looking North up an arm of Ladybower, towards the Snake pass.

The ragwort was COVERED in millions of these banded caterpillars (click on the picture for a larger version)

Looking up to Bamford edge - the views from there today would be calendar quality!

Winhill pike, a great climb on any day.

Stanage - the 'big daddy' around here, loomed ever-present on the horizon.

After passing cutthroat bridge, and Moscar, we climbed to the top of the moors for our first view of the reservoirs. This one is Dale Dike, which burst and caused one of Europe's worst natural disasters in 1864. You can read about it HERE

Strines reservoir is hidden in the dip, for now.

Boots folly stands erect on the hillside above Sugworth hall, picked out by a shaft of sunlight.

Bents house nearby - a palatial pile indeed!

A beautifully ornate pair of metal posts mark the footpath in the grounds of Sugworth.

Your eyes are kept WELL away from the house though, as you pass through this tunnel of thick rhododendron.

Then things open out, and the folly is suddenly nearer. A footpath goes to the right of it, but it's very popular with walkers, and lots visit the tower (well - it's a must-do when in the area).

Boots folly.

Looking up the inside of the tower. As Wikipedia says, the tower is now a shell, having had the interior floors and stairs removed. You can still see sections of stair above, though.

A monolith indeed.

Strines reservoir, nestling in the valley.

Sue, dwarfed by the bracken, with Dale Dike reservoir behind.

Foxgloves LOVE hugging walls. Alas, they are getting past their best now.

Sue takes advantage of a shady retreat to appreciate the views.

We crossed the small bridge on the isthmus of the two reservoirs, and climbed to the road. We lay in the warm sun and had lunch. It started spitting with rain, but it was only a very light, short shower, so we didn't need to get the waterproofs on.

We spotted this robin. Either a female, or a young one, as the red breast was absent.

Butterflies were making the most of the thistle flowers.

After lunch, we decided to visit the Strines inn, a pub I'd not been to before, but Sue had. While were were there, I noticed this good example of an Ordnance survey bench mark cut into the wall.

You can read about them HERE

The garden of the inn.

A proud peacock was strutting his stuff. He didn't display his fine tail for me, though!

We left the pub as the sky darkened ominously. We began the climb up Foulstone road, a track that climbs the moors and takes you to Derwent edge. We could see many grouse butts to our left and right, ready the slaughter of the birds on the 12th of August.

The rain came, this time hard enough to make us don our coats etc. 

It rained for the entire climb, and only abated when we reached the crossroads of paths at Derwent edge.

You can see a video by clicking HERE

Soon, though, the skies started to clear again - JUST in time for our walk along the edge.

The dark clouds lightened, and the blue sky peeped. The great ridge started to look less threatening and the wind was warm.

The wheelstones, bathed in the now-warm sunshine.

The view north from Derwent edge.

Ever since I'd been coming here, I've wanted to climb these stones. I've always been a bit nervous, though. Today, determination got the better of me!

DID IT!!!

You can see a video of the view from the top by clicking HERE

 The now wonderful skies, and view along the edge. 

Looking back to the wheelstones.

We spotted this strange 'water trough' stone, probably done by a shepherd for his stock.

Now it was REALLY comfortably warm, with a strong breeze blowing. Time for Sue to relax in the sun.

You can see a video of the view from here by clicking HERE

The famous Ladybower viaduct, with Win hill behind. The submerged village of Ashopton is somewhere below the waves down there. You can read more about this here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derwent,_Derbyshire

One of my favourite viewpoints.

Sue likes it too.

Crookhill farm, with Crookhill knoll behind.

Stanage edge comes into view as we make our way off Derwent edge, and start the descent to the car.

One for the album before we leave.

The light, playing some lovely tricks through the clouds.

Our path dips down, and Ladybower dam comes into view.

On a whim, we decided to treat ourselves to fish and chips at Longnor. They are particularly good there.

On the way, we passed the reef knolls of Parkhouse and Chrome hills, picked out nicely in the evening light.

After our fine feast, we made our way home. The walk was just over ten miles, with around 2,000 feet of ascent. Tired, but happy, we had had a good day :-)

Snow,Longnor, a problem!

After a WHOLE month without a walk, we found ourselves in PERFECT conditions on our day off. We’d had a bit of snow in Bakewell, but from talking to friends who lived ‘in the hills’, we knew there was more the higher you went, so we decided to do the reef Knolls of Hollinsclough. These strange hills were once part of a tropical sea, and have been carved into interesting and (to us) irresistible shapes.

Remember, you can click on any of the pictures for a bigger version.

We parked the car on the old market place at Longnor. Longnor was, in the past, a VERY important place, and has still got the toll fees on a sign above the hall. There were four pubs, easily supported in the halcyon days of Longnor, but the hotel is now private, one of the pubs looks closed (the grapes), and one is for sale (at a reduced price). Times are hard!

 We left by a snowy track, and headed out for the hills. The sky was still grey, but the forecast was for sunshine later on.

 The cloud was already breaking up to show bits of blue sky.

 We passed a farm where we saw these two survivors of Christmas. I BET one of them was called ‘lucky’. 

 They also had these two model sheep in their front garden, but why they would want models, when the real thing was in the fields is beyond me?

Now we drew sharp breaths as the panorama of what we’d come here for opened up. We needed to cross the fields and get up there.

 A panoramic shot (click on it)

 Sue shows the way, as always.

 Then heads off into the snowy wasteland.

 To our surprise, we were walking on virgin snow. No-one had been here before us, but we could see figures crossing Chrome hill already.

 Desiderata!

We took a track that dropped us into Hollinsclough hamlet. We did think about starting the walk from here, but with the tricky road conditions on the untreated ones, we decided on Longnor instead.

Hollinsclough.

 As we left the village, the upper Dove valley showed itself at its best in a mantle of snow.

 This track led to the valley bottom and a footbridge.

 Looking back down the Dove valley.

 I KNEW I shouldn't have had those mince pies at Xmas!!!

 Ahhh – this is why we came. The shoulder of Chrome hill, left, then the sharp point of Parkhouse hill, then Hitter hill, then High Wheeldon stretched out away from us. This is the upper Dove valley.

We had a few problems wayfinding at the start of Hollins hill, as there were no tracks or visible path but, after a couple of false starts, we gained height. 

 There were some pretty impressive drifts up here.

 And some absolutely beautiful wall patterns.

Sue reads the map, but it’s easy here – just head upwards!

Looking across the valley from the top of Hollins hill. This remote and cold looking place is Stoop farm.

We would be passing behind it later as we made our way to the star of the show today – Chrome hill.

The 'open access' sign, this means the land is not used to grow crops etc, so walkers are allowed onto it, but they must treat it with respect.

I’m coming, I’m COMING!!!!!

 The view up to Hollins hill from where we had lunch accompanied by a nice brandy-laced coffee.

Looking back to the stile we sat on for lunch, what a view, eh?

After lunch, sitting in the warmth of the sun, we headed off to Chrome hill across the still virgin snow (where WERE all the people on this perfect day???)

AHA! At last, signs of other people in the snow.

But just our tracks behind.

 (Shiver) – looking over to Chrome hill, with Tor rocks in the foreground.

To us, THIS is what perfection is all about – snow, sun and a hill.

 The long ridge of Hollins hill where we were less than an hour ago.

Here we go then – lead on, Susie. 

 Come on then – the view from up here is great.

Not to be outdone, I was soon joined by Sue.

That long ridge to the left is again the one we crossed first, Hollins hill.

 Some like jewellery, some like to lunch, but to Sue – THIS is heaven :-)

I suppose you could say we were on the slippery slope down here (and although Sue managed to stay upright, I ended up with a wet bum).

 Looking across to the ‘dinosaur back’ of Parkhouse hill. We had intended to do this as well, but it was far steeper than Chrome hill, and a lot icier too. Also, the light was beginning to fade, so we decided to save that one for another day.

Dowall hall farm picked out in a shaft of evening sunlight.

The classic view of Parkhouse hill.

The light was already beginning to fade as we made our way back to Longnor.

It had been a superb day, one we really needed.

Home now to a hot bath and a relaxing evening.